SEARCH HERE
Black Forest Garden Club
  • Home
  • Classes, Workshops, and Events
  • To Read
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Join the Club!

Divide Iris in July - early August

7/23/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Late July through early August is the best time to divide iris, as they are dormant during the summer. They then put on a flush of growth in preparation for winter. This dormant period makes it the ideal time to renovate a clump. Iris, as a general rule, should be divided about every three to five years.

As
iris rhizomes (sort of like roots) spread, they become crowded. This stresses the plants and can even cause them to stop blooming and become susceptible to pests, such as iris borers.


By dividing and transplanting your irises, you will rejuvenate the plants and be rewarded with a greater number of healthy blooms in the spring.


How to Divide and Transplant Iris (step by step article with photos)

TIP:
Iris rhizome sections can be stored over winter if you're not ready to replant them in the fall. Wrap the sections in newspaper, or bundle them with peat moss in a loosely secured paper bag; store them in a dark, dry, cool (but not freezing) location over the winter. Examine the rhizomes every few weeks, and discard any that begin to feel soft or mushy. In the spring, you can bring them out and replant the rhizomes in the garden.

Monitor and improve the efficient of your irrigation systems

7/22/2022

 
Picture
Determine the efficiency of your sprinkler system by looking for:
  • Runoff on sidewalks and streets
  • Pooling or puddling of water
  • Low head drainage – Does water continue to port/weep from sprinkler heads after the zone has stopped running?
  • Check sprinklers for excessive misting
  • Low pressure – water not distributed evenly throughout system
 
Determine which components are most critical to an efficient irrigation system
  • Backflow Preventer – protects your potable water source from contamination. Make sure you have selected the correct backflow preventer for your property and the design of your system.
  • Master Valve – can prevent significant water loss in the event of breakage to system piping (gatekeeper of the system).
  • Zone Valves – not all are created equal. Upgrading to higher quality valves with flow control can improve system efficiency and distribution uniformity.
  • Sprinkler Heads/Nozzles – pressure regulation to prevent misting, high quality seals to prevent low head drainage, correct nozzle selection to ensure even distribution.
  • Controller – tells your system which sprinklers to run, and when. Learning how to adjust settings on your controller can save you money on irrigation service
 
Consider hiring a professional to inspect your irrigation system - make sure to have them explain and document any changes made to your controller.


High quality irrigation is an investment in the future of your landscape!
Credit:  ALCC

There's a new weed killer in town... and Good Housekeeping says it is "genius"

7/22/2022

 
Picture


By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

We've all tried a variety of week killers over the years - from pouring boiling water directly on individual weeds to concocting various blends of weed killer with vinegar and other home products.

If you're looking for a non-chemical weedkiller, Earth's Ally Weed & Grass Killer may be the answer to your weedkiller prayers. Formulated with common household substances like sea salt, vinegar, and soap, it is safe, effective, and meets the federal government definition of a "minimum risk" pesticide.

Good Housekeeping's lab results showed the product is safe for people and pets, and browns weeds in as little as three hours.  Complete and total death of weeds with long, tenacious roots (like dandelions) take longer to kill - with results showing 14 days after first application.

Earth’s Ally kills common weeds, including broadleaf, crabgrass, dandelion, clover, ivy, chickweed and many more. When used as directed, Earth’s Ally delivers visible results in 3 hours and has been proven to kill weeds to the root, so you won’t end up treating the same weed repeatedly.

It is less effective on weeds with woody stems, such as some ivies.

This weedkiller is 'non-selective' - so be careful where you spray it because it can kill everything around the weeds if dispersed by wind or errant spraying.

Photo credit:  Earth's Ally


Why your tomatoes are splitting and ways to prevent it

7/20/2022

 
Picture
Why do tomatoes split?
The grocery store is filled with tomatoes sporting smooth, glossy, blemish-free skin. These types of tomatoes are bred to be uniform. Every stage of their production is controlled and regimented to ensure each fruit is as close to perfect as possible. Plus, any that do happen to split typically get removed before making their way to the produce aisle.

In contrast, the tomatoes you grow in your own garden will usually have a more varied appearance. But sometimes those irregularities become damaging, like splits in your tomatoes. When the outer skin cracks, the delicate tomato flesh gets exposed to the elements and usually leads to fast fruit decline.

Tomato cracking is common when there are big swings in the amount of water available to plants. A prolonged dry period followed by a deep, soaking rain will cause tomato plants and fruit to grow more rapidly. The tomato skins crack when the flesh expands faster than the skin. Tomato splitting isn't caused by a pest or disease that will spread to other plants. There is no concern about a plant with cracked tomatoes sharing the problem with nearby plants.

If skins crack when the tomatoes are green, the fruit will likely rot before it ripens. If the fruit is showing signs of ripening (turning red, pink, yellow, purple) you can harvest it and salvage much of the fruit, notes Gretchen Voyle of Michigan State University Extension. "All that needs to be done is trim out the damaged areas," she says. Then, you can use the rest of the tomato in salsas, sauces, or other favorite fresh or cooked recipes.

Tips for Preventing Tomato Splitting
Once tomatoes split, the damage can't be undone. However, there are a few things you can do to avoid the cracks in the first place.

1. Water Tomato Plants Consistently
Tomatoes grow best with about 1 inch of water a week. If rainfall is less than that, water plants as needed. Deliver water directly to the base of plants using a drip hose or watering wand. Watering plants at the base and keeping leaves dry will help prevent several common foliar diseases. 


2. Mulch Around Plants
Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch around the base of tomato plants to help conserve soil moisture. The mulch slows evaporation and helps prevent big swings in soil moisture and skin cracks. Use an organic mulch, such as well-decomposed compost, straw, or grass clippings. At the end of season, either turn any remaining mulch into the soil or leave it in place to continue breaking down beneath a fresh layer of mulch the next season.


3. Grow Split-Resistant Tomatoes
Some tomato varieties are better at tolerating fluctuating amounts of moisture than others. Tomatoes that resist splitting include 'Celebrity', 'Juliet', 'Plum Regal', and 'Pink Girl'. When shopping for tomatoes, check plant tags for resistance to cracking as well as certain diseases.  

Credit:  Better Homes & Gardens

How to make flowers bloom all summer

7/18/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

In order to get plants (perennials and annuals alike) to bloom all summer, you must do one thing:  deadhead.

Some folks find deadheading their plants (religiously removing spent blooms) therapeutic, while others find it tedious.  Regardless, it is a garden chore you must do in order for your plants to bloom continuously during the growing season.

If you don't deadhead spent blooms in a timely manner, plants pivot into producing seed, and put all their energy into that task instead of into blooming.  Preventing a plant from going to seed gives it the energy and motivation to produce blooms.

Pinch off dead flowers, clean up dead leaves, keep plants evenly moist, and fertilize every couple of weeks for gorgeous gardens and best results.


Helping plants through a heat wave (while saving water)

7/18/2022

 
Picture
Even in our high plain's region, the higher the normal heat, dryness, and extreme temperature swings of our summers can cause stress and potential damage to the garden. Even plants that prefer warm weather are not always big fans of temperatures above 95 degrees, or drastic changes.
 
What is too hot?
This will depend on the plants - Cool season plants like pansies, snapdragons, and veggies like broccoli, lettuce, etc. don’t like temps above 75. You will see those veggies bolt, (Go to flower and seed).

Warm season plants like tomatoes, peppers, squashes, zinnia, impatiens, & annual vinca love & thrive in warm temps (75-90). But when we get in the mid and upper 90’s to 100 even those can slow production or suffer. 

Newly planted perennials, trees & shrubs too can suffer. The more mature a plant is the better it should be able to withstand the heat. 
 
It's hot outside - Should I water more?
Not necessarily. Plants may look wilted just as a reaction to the afternoon heat, they may bounce back in the cooler evenings. If that happens, they don’t’ need water, if they are still wilted in the AM, they need water. If you just water without knowing how much moisture is in the soil, you may overwater them. Plants can temporarily shut down all their functions when we get to the high 90’s. 
 
Solution: get a water meter and water deeply, not just during the heat spell, but all the time. Train the roots to go deeper for water. The deeper the roots go to get water the better off they are when the heat or stress comes. The top few inches of soil dries out much quicker than the deeper soil. This is true of all plant categories – annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees & veggies!
 
Just like people - keep your plants as healthy as possible. When they are healthy, they will be more resilient when stressed by heat of other environmental elements.


Contributed by ALCC


Time for a mid-summer refresh

7/18/2022

 
Picture
By ALCC

Now is a good time to refresh garden areas, as some annuals have likely begun to fade. Choose some perennials that will tolerate the hot days still ahead and bring color to your garden for the rest of the growing season.

Gardens are where plant science and art come together. Start by selecting plants that will grow in Colorado's harsh hot and cold climate and that need very little water. Then select the ones you will plant based on their aesthetic value-color, texture, size, shape.

Some plants have colorful blooms while others offer interesting texture or foliage. Because they grow to different heights, taller plants will be best as a backdrop to other plants while short ones should be placed along borders and mid-sized ones should be placed between the two extremes.

Consult a landscape professional or local garden center for recommendations for your landscape conditions.
 
Here are a few recommendations, including some from Plant Select®, which offers low-maintenance plants that are well-suited to Colorado’s unique climates.
  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant flower features colorful blooms that pollinators love.
  • VERMILION BLUFFS® Mexican sage (Salvia darcyi 'Pscarl') – This North American native features red flowers that attract humming birds.
  • Engelmann's Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia) – These bright yellow daisies are tough perennials that can adapt to most conditions—just don’t put them in a very shady spot.
 
Enjoy perennials for the variety they offer in phases throughout the growing season.

Shown in photo:  purple coneflower

Perennials that thrive no matter what

7/14/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Not all perennials are created equal. Some do well in part-shade and really don't appreciate 94 degree days with full sun. Most don't appreciate 94 degree days with full sun.

These perennials, however, thrive no matter what:
  • Daylily
  • Russian Sage
  • Sedum
  • Tickseed (shown in photo)
  • Catmint (likes a good haircut mid-summer for a fresh flush of blooms)
  • Cranesbill Geranium
  • Japanese Anenome (spreads easily and fast so plant with caution)
  • Garden Phlox
  • Autumn Joy Sedum
  • Apache Plume
  • Rabbit Brush (Chamisa)
  • Three-leaf Sumac
  • Most Ornamental grasses
  • Redleaf Rose

Local Farm to Table Dinner:  July 31, 2022

7/13/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Enjoy an immersive dining experience at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo this coming July 31st.

The Farm to Table event is a brunch from 11am to 1pm, and will feature all locally-sourced ingredients from the farmers, ranchers, and gardeners who live and grow food in our area.

You'll have the opportunity to browse a tailor-made farmer's market with the option to purchase the ingredients featured in your meal.  Tickets also include admission and free wagon rides to the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo fairgrounds.

Tickets:  $70 per adult, $35 per child. Includes two alcoholic beverages for adults and a special Meet the Chef opportunity.

Purchase tickets here.

The difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes

7/13/2022

 
Picture
Determinate Tomatoes grow to their full height (3-4 feet) and set their fruit in 4-6 weeks. After that short growing season, they stop producing fruit and slowly begin to weaken, making them more susceptible to disease. Bush tomatoes are typically determinate, making them great for porches and patios as they don’t get as big as indeterminate tomatoes.

Determinates usually produce fruit earlier. Be mindful when planting your determinates that you won’t be on vacation or otherwise unavailable when they are supposed to mature.

Indeterminate Tomatoes on the other hand grow all season long and are often labeled vining tomatoes. As vining tomatoes, they will most likely need to be staked and pruned throughout their growing season. Unlike determinates which produce quickly and all at once, indeterminates will continue to produce fruit slowly and steadily until frost, so they need regular fertilizing to help them grow.

Indeterminate varieties have leaves that are spaced out more and look more like vines (with long, pliable branches). Check the flowers and fruit production. If the tomato plant is flowering all at once and producing all of its tomatoes at the same time, then it is a determinate tomato.


How to start beekeeping, create good habitat and tell bees and wasps apart

7/13/2022

 
Picture
This article from UC Health has extensive information on beekeeping.  The section on how to tell bees and wasps apart is excellent, as is the information on invasive and native wasps in Colorado. (Photo above is a wasp, not a bee).

Read the article here.


One of the most significant differences between a bee and a wasp is that honey bees can only sting once. But how do you tell them apart? A bee looks hairy and has a shorter, slightly rounder body. In contrast, a wasp has a skinny body with a narrow waist and is mostly hairless.

Soil Scoop - the tool you didn't know you can't live without

7/11/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

One of the very best tools for any gardener to own is a simple soil scoop.  The uses for this gem of a tool are numerous, but the most wonderful thing about it is how easy it makes planting anything - from pots and containers to garden beds and directly in the ground.

A good soil scoop should be made of strong, high-quality stainless steel for the scoop head and a comfortable wooden handle. You don't want it to bend or rust, and you want the wood handle to provide excellent grip and comfort to reduce hand fatigue.

An ultra-deep dished shovel head will accommodate more soil. A good scoop is perfect for gardening and even household tasks including loosening soil, digging, weeding, transplanting, and composting and also in the kitchen, bar, buffet, party, wedding garden or use as pet food scoop.

Black Forest Garden Club recommends this low-cost high-quality soil scoop. It comes with a full lifetime warranty, has a large scoop, is and is only $16.  Another way to find a great soil scoop is to check out antiques or garden stores.


How to store and freeze basil

7/5/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Basil is like a precious jewel (if you picked too much and have to discard some).  Now you don't have to - here are instructions from Better Homes & Gardens on how to store and freeze fresh basil.


To store basil
  1. Choose fresh herbs at their prime for the longer-lasting results. Look for basil that has evenly colored, fresh-looking leaves with no brown spots or signs of wilting.
  2. Cut ½-inch from the bottom of the stems and stand the sprigs upright in a glass jar.
  3. Fill the jar with enough cold water to cover the stems by 1 inch.
  4. Loosely cover the leaves with a plastic bag.
  5. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

To freeze basil
Make basil pesto and freeze in an ice cube tray or small jars. Once frozen, keep the cubes in a freezer bag or container to add a burst of flavor to soups and sauces.

Easy Basil Pesto Recipe
The New York Times has a wonderful Easy Basil Pesto Recipe.  Remember to use high quality olive oil and freshly grated parmesan or romano for the best flavor. One reviewer added that it it is even better with a pinch of kosher salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.


Long living perennials

7/5/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Here's a quick list of long lived perennials that will thrive in the garden for many years:
  • Peony (some live to be 100!)
  • Daylily
  • Hosta (shade)
  • Iris
  • Oriental Poppy
  • Sedum
  • Catmint (benefits from a good trim two to three times a summer)
  • Trumpet Vine
  • Aster
  • Moss Phlox
  • Baptisia (also called Blue False Indigo). Shown in photo above.
  • Sunflower

Most of these plants have such longevity because they are naturally drought- and insect-resistant.


You won't forget to turn your water off again - this timer will shut the water off for you

7/5/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

If you're guilty of forgetting to turn off the sprinkler or hose, here is a nifty product for you:  the Orbit 62061Z Single-Outlet Hose Watering Timer.

It is programmable - you set how often you want to water, it has a large digital display and a rain delay feature, and importantly shows you how much you are watering so you can save water in drought conditions.

Thousands of five star reviews and only $36!

Are Epsom Salts good for plants?

7/1/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

The article linked below by Gardening Know-How is timely. In our locale our flowers are getting ready to bloom and Epsom salts improves flower blooming and enhances a plant's green color.

The article advises getting your soil tested first to determine if it is deficient of magnesium, which Epsom salts can add.  Click here for information on how to get a soil test.

"Many plants, like beans and leafy vegetables, will happily grow and produce in soils with low levels of magnesium. Plants like roses, tomatoes, and peppers, on the other hand require lots of magnesium, and therefore, are more commonly watered with Epsom salt."

Why put Epsom salts on your plants, things to watch out for (i.e. overdoing), and how to water plants with Epsom salts in the article here.

Denver Botanic Gardens - Chatfield - plans to expand

7/1/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

​According to a June 7, 2022 article in the Denver Business Journal, Denver Botanic Gardens plans to expand it's Chatfield Farms site.  A proposed 13,000 square foot education center will highlight the history and future of agriculture and connect classrooms to outdoor learning.

The 700-acre site in Jefferson County is slated to get a new welcome center, the education building, restaurant, stage and butterfly house.

They are currently in the fundraising process. The project is estimate to cost between $38-40 million.

Design drawings can be viewed here.

Photo credit:  Didier Design Studio

Book Review: How to Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving the House

7/1/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

​This fun book guides readers on how to use containers to grow food with little outside space, or perhaps aren't as mobile as they once were. It's possible to have a truly productive, healthy garden on a deck or patio or even window box or balcony - just steps away.

This book covers what you need to know to grow a variety of edible plants in pots while meeting each plant's specific needs. 

Amazon says "Author Claire Ratinon brings her urban food growing expertise to this popular subject, in a book designed to appeal to new gardeners and anyone who would like to take on the rewarding challenge of growing their own dinner, even if they've only got a window box or balcony to work with."

Purchase here.


Greens that ward off garden pests

7/1/2022

 
Picture
By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Putting certain plants together (commonly called companion planting) can be beneficial in a number of ways, and the most important of those is naturally repelling pests.

Having pests in the garden is a particularly vexing problem, and gardeners spend a lot of time finding and sharing their solutions for getting rid of unwanted pests.

Companion planting is Mother's Nature's insect control, and is the method of growing complementary plants side by side.

Some recommendations:
  • Scented flowers (bee/pollinator friendly) next to a fruiting plant (i.e. peppers, squash)
  • French marigolds along side tomatoes to deter whiteflies
  • Chervil or coriander next to plants suffering from aphids
  • Chives next to tomatoes also keep aphids away
  • Mint next to arugula to deter the flea beetle
  • Let dill go to flower to attract aphid eating hoverflies​
​
In photo:  the herb 'chervil'


    Authors

    Blog posts are written by Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director.  Contact BFGC:  blackforestgardenclub@gmail.com 
    If you would like to submit a guest article please email us.

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    March 2014
    November 2013


    Categories

    All
    BOOKS
    EVENTS
    FLOWERS
    GARDENING TIPS
    GROWING TIPS
    PLANTS
    SOIL
    TREES
    VEGETABLES
    WATER
    WILDLIFE